Hi guys,My MY2015 STI which is just 11 months old is giving the same symptoms as my earlier WRX's regarding this crappy alarm that Subaru insists on installing after the car lands in Australia. The car intermittently will not start.I completely disconnected these alarms in earlier cars.My question is regarding the MY 2015 STI, where exactly is the module? I have had the panel under the steering wheel off and traced the wiring from the alarm push button on this panel. But I cannot find just where it goes.I do know that this alarm was installed in Port Kembla after the car arrived from Japan.The local dealer will not remove it and has a new one on order???????But is it going to be any more reliable than the original. I suspect that the module is somewhere behing the radio but any advise would be much appreciated.I don't understand why Subaru Australia fit these unreliable alarms. It's not like they haven't know about this as my 16 year old MY00 had the same problem.It's enough to turn you off Subaru for life!!!

Hi again guys,Well after more time spent on google I found that if the car will not start due to this dodgy alarm, you open the drivers door and the thing will start!!!!!!!Don't know why but it's the advice I found on google. It works.Now waiting for the experts at Subaru to let me know when the new "CRAPPY" module is in.For the life of me I cannot understand why Subaru Australia fit these sheet alarm units after the car is imported. It's a crazy thing to do to a brand new car. Go figure.And the totally stupid thing is when I asked the Subaru service centre to remove it they said that they are not allowed.Funny I thought it was my car not theirs!!!Anyway seeing it's under warranty I will wait and see if the warranty is worth more than the paper it's printed on.I think a letter to the General Manager Subaru Australia wouldn't do any harm seeing as they have been installing this crap for sixteen years and still haven't got the message.Will post again after the car returns from Subaru next week.Stevie

I've had quite a few issues with my alarm system as well. It took them 3 goes at replacing the wiring harness before they said there was about a 10% failure rate with the new systems and decided to retrofit the previous gen system. So far (fingers crossed) I haven't had any issues since, however it's only been about 3 months so still early days

Just an update!!It's now 2 weeks since my first problem arose with this stupid alarm system.I have not heard from Subaru at Crossroads. I guess the replacement part is coming from China!!! Last Friday, 29th January I sent a letter via overnight post to Nick Senior, MD of Subaru Australia pointing out my frustration with this car which is not yet one year old. And guess what, I have not had a reply. Hopeless.So much for their customer service. It ain't worth the paper it's printed on. Luckily with no thanks to Subaru Australia I have been able to start the car and use it.Will add another post when there is news to reportCheersStevie Boy

Hi all,Here is the latest to this saga.After 2 weeks I still have not heard from el Supremo Nick Senior. Pathetic customer service!!!!!!However today I had a call from the service people at Crossroads Subaru and they say they have the new part in stock now??? Speedy, very speedy. NOTBut they say they need the car for 2 days to install the new UPGRADED alarm, WTF (Loaner car please)They also mention it will have a keypad like the old Brandt alarms. Well as I have had two WRX's with keypad alarms the last thing I need is a third one. It is a pain in the rectum to have to input a pin number every time you want to start the car.So I told them I don't want it and they said they have to install the new alarm. I said to the bloke after shelling out almost $ 53K I think I owned the car not Subaru and I'll have done to it what I want not what they tell me to do.From what I can make out the alarm is patched into the wiring harness, just need to find out where and un patch it.I know there is a module below the GPS unit in the centre console with with a multi pin plug. Just need to find the other plug.The service centre is to get back to me, but I won't hold my breath.Anyway that is the latest in this drama caused by Subaru Australia. CheersStevie

HiHere is the latest in this ongoing saga!!!Call today from Subaru Sydney and they tell me the key pad is only for programming and will not be visible as it's located near the fuse box under the driver side dash!!!Also I was told this UPDATED version is in fact the same unit that they installed in the 2013 WRX's So is not updated but backdated!!!!It's a case of back to the future, just hope it works.Stevie

HiAs promised here is the latest in this story.Today my car had the faulty alarm removed and a new, better unit (so Subaru say) installed.I spoke to the auto electrician regarding completely removing this annoying modification but Subaru insisted on replacing it.For those with a 2015 STI, I would contact your dealer and ask for the old alarm to be upgraded. They know they have a problem.As well as making it impossible to start the car it would also alarm on a hot day if the front windows were left down 50mmThe new unit is located in the same position as the old unit but at least the new one has a female socket that the wiring loom plugs directly into. The old unit had a loom from it in all black wiring. I mention this so you can tell the difference.The other thing that really annoys me is the chirp chirp every time you open the door or lock the car.So I have disconnected the motion sensors and the siren. Immobiliser etc is still functional.Car at this stage is working as it should.Hopefully this is my last post on this topic!!!!Stevie.

Hi again!!!Here is the latest on this crappy aftermarket alarm installed in my STI before delivery.As I said in earlier posts I purchased the car new in Feb 2015. But between the time the car landed in Port Kembla and delivery Subaru installed, or had installed by a contractor an alarm system.Back in Feb-March last year they replaced the module and at the time I asked the auto electrician doing the job to leave the screamer siren and the motion detectors disconnected.The system has worked OK since then UNTIL yesterday.I came back to my parked car opened the door and all of the blinker lights started flashing. No siren thank God as it's not connected. I tried every trick I could think of but to no avail. It finally got to the point that I was in the drivers seat and as I depressed the clutch the lights would start flashing but the engine would not start.Called Subaru Assistance (NRMA actually) and they sent a tow truck and the car was delivered to the local STI agent.Late yesterday they called me and said the main battery that cranks the engine was faulty. WTF!!!!Anyway Subaru installed a new battery and left it overnight and the car now seems to be OK for now.The car is still under the 3 year new car warranty but the battery only has a 2 year warranty.However the outcome has been good as Subaru replaced the battery at their cost as I had had trouble with this alarm in the past.However this is my third WRX and I have removed the alarms from the earlier two. I now plan to do the same with this car. I am told all of the standard features still work once the alarm is removed ie: cental locking and immobilizer.I know the alarm box has a loom that plugs directly into the box but I am not sure where the loom comes from. Any advice would be much appreciated. I realise that this might be a touchy subject in so much as disabling an alarm.All good until the next timeRegards,Stevie

It is not the dealers choice as to remove the alarm or not it is yours. Since it is aftermarket just get any good auto electrician to remove it but, not until you contact Subaru Australia and discuss it with them. They should remove any aftermarket part fitted if not fitted at your request.

Thanks for the updates Stevie. I never had the misfortune of the brandt alarms in the past however a few of my friends have and they all took my advice and had those things ripped out. Given in the next few months I am purchasing a MY16 STI I am eager to also never have this issue bite me. Keep the updates coming.

PAT555 wrote:Thanks for the updates Stevie. I never had the misfortune of the brandt alarms in the past however a few of my friends have and they all took my advice and had those things ripped out. Given in the next few months I am purchasing a MY16 STI I am eager to also never have this issue bite me. Keep the updates coming.

Well there you go, get a price on getting it out from a local Subaru specialist and deduct that cost from the cost of purchase.

Hi there Guys.SUCCESS, SUCCESS, SUCCESS !!!!!Well today I had this crappy Sigma Series S alarm removed and all is well again.Though I must say if Subaru insist in having this rubbish installed after the car arrives in Oz it will be the last WRX I will buy. Three times is three times too many!!My auto electrician/alarm installer called the mob in Port Kembla who install these for Subaru to get some advice. When he got off the phone he commented that it was the rudest phone call he had had in years. Go figure, are they there to help or not???Anyway my man was determined to remove it and get the car going.As it turns out it's not a big job at all. Once you know what needs doing it would only take 45 minutes all up.I won't say on here how to do it for obvious reasons but feel free to message me if you need advice.I can now smile again knowing that the crap alarm has been removed.Happy dazeStevie

Hi again guys,I recently spoke to the salesman I purchased my STI from and he tells me that Subaru has finally stopped installing these crappy alarms. I did send a registered letter to the Subaru CEO saying that after 3 WRX's over seventeen years I could not believe that they were persisting with these alarms. They make a great car unreliable.Hopefully my letter helped this to happen.Stevie.